The Best Freezer Meals for New Moms (Hint: It’s Breakfast)
You’ll never think about freezer meals for new moms the same way when you hear this. I doubt anyone would ever agree with me.
it’s Breakfast Food
I know, I know. Everyone always has long lists of dinner recipes ideas to make freezer meals for new moms. And let’s face it, there is some logic to that. Dinner is the most stressful meal to keep up with as moms. The age old “what’s for dinner” rings in my ears too. But, I am convinced that breakfast is the best meal to prepare when stocking your freezer for postpartum.
Sleepless Nights
When you have a newborn in the house, making breakfast is probably the most annoying meal to make in a day. This is true whether you have older kids or not. You’ve likely just had an interrupted night of sleep or a completely sleepless night. You wake up, and you just pop your premade meal in the oven or microwave to reheat.
It is the best feeling to already have something made for the time that you are most exhausted. Because let’s face it, even scrambling eggs feels like a lot with a newborn in the house. Whereas with dinner, you may have people bringing you meals or the adults in the household are at least more awake by the time dinner is rolling around.
Cozy Mornings
Having freezer meals prepped for breakfast doesn’t just make newborn days less stressful, it makes for such cozy mornings.
When I was postpartum with both my girls I had breakfast meals prepped for 2 weeks. So whenever the baby woke me up in the morning I would promptly get out of the snuggly bed and move to the snuggly couch to have a warm meal with a cup of coffee. Snuggling didn’t have to stop! It made for such a special time with my husband. It was even relaxing with my second daughter around. Normally she has to wait for breakfast while I cook, but instead she got to come snuggle me and her sister while it was warming up.
Most Important Meal
Now obviously dinner is important too, as are all meals when you are nursing a newborn constantly. But having a big breakfast always makes me feel good, even when I’m not freshly postpartum. Starting off on the right foot with a balanced and nourishing breakfast helps carry you through your day with more sustained energy.
Why Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day
This is so cheesy, but there’s a reason people have said it and I’m going to say it again.
In general, you need balanced and nutritious meals in pregnancy and postpartum in order to supply and restored nutrients for the baby. So making sure to eat as healthy as possible is obviously a given. But breakfast is arguably the most important meal to prioritize, even when you’re not newly postpartum.
It’s been shown that breakfast has a positive effect on overall health including BMI, fruit and vegetable consumption, calcium and fiber intake. Making sure you have a solid meal first thing in the morning tells your body that you are able to use the calories instead of hold onto them. In other words, your body knows you’ll have plenty of food and you don’t need to move into conservation mode, which has a positive effect on weight. Not to mention getting full before you start the day and nurse your baby for a few hours is helpful for avoiding snacking, especially on junk food. But more importantly for breastfeeding and newly postpartum mothers, getting adequate nutrition through fruits, vegetables, calcium, and fiber is huge!
It can be tough to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients as a mother, so ensuring that you’re eating a balanced breakfast can really make a difference. And it’s not just my opinion, see!
Best Breakfast Freezer Meals for new moms
- Breakfast sandwiches – These were me and my husband’s absolute favorites. They are so yummy when you reheat them, and easy to eat too! You could make them with bagels, english muffins, or toast.
- Breakfast burritos – Very similar concept as sandwiches, and equally as delicious.
- Egg casserole – So easy to make. These are probably my favorite to include because of how much it makes so quickly.
- Baked oatmeal – Again, easy and stretches a long way. This one is such a comfort food.
How to Prep Breakfast Meals for Postpartum
I have created several products that walk you through planning for postpartum freezer meals, but here is a quick summary of the easiest framework to follow:
- Meal count – Decide how many breakfast meals you’ll make.
- Meal selection – Choose your recipes.
- Freezer organization – Clear out your freezer or make a plan for ensuring enough space for all your meals.
- Schedule food prep – Look over your calendar and decide when you’ll make all the meals.
- Gather your supplies – Go shopping or add some extra ingredients to your normal grocery list. Don’t forget freezer bags!
- Cook & freeze – You’re done!
Final thoughts
Congratulations on your new baby! I hope you found this helpful and encouraging as you prepare for this next season of life. Not everyone will agree with me on this, but it is definitely something to consider as you think about what you’ll find most helpful in your postpartum recovery.
More resources…
- Grab my Postpartum Freezer Meal Plan Checklist for a printable version of my freezer meal planning process so you can follow along as you prep!
- If you want a complete, done-for-you meal plan you can check out my 2 Week Postpartum Freezer Meal Plan.
- For a more in-depth explanation of creating your own postpartum meal plan, take a look at this freebie.
- I also have an upgraded version of the freebie with extra resources and more step-by-step guidance that walks you through exactly how to make and execute a freezer meal plan all by 36 weeks.
